Material forming apparatus



Nov. 24, 1931. c, NELSON ET AL 1,833,616

MATERIAL FORMING APPARATUS Filed June 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mu /729m.

.. mind- Nov. 24, 1931. c. E. NELSON ET AL ,6

MATERIAL FORMING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 9, 1927 i i V 1In accordance with the general features of the invention there isprovided in one em- Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECHARLES EDWIN NELSON AND JOHN STANLEY STULL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A S-SIGNORS 'IO WESTEBNELEGTRIC COMPANY INCORPORATED, OF. NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ADORPORATION OF NEW YORK MATERIAL FORMING Arr-Am'rus Application filedJune 9,

' This invention relates to improvements in: material forming apparatus,and more parciently and expeditiously forming metal blanks into articlesof various predetermined shapes.

bodiment thereof a pair of cooperating positively driven formin'grollsbetween which the blanks are successively advanced from a magazine byperipheral teethor projections of-annular disksdisposed betweenindividual sectionsof one'of therollsand passing between individualsectionsof the other roll. Means is "provided for guiding the blanksagainstdisplacement as they are advanced from themagazine to theposition wherein they-areoperatively engaged "by the forming rolls. Theperipheral surfaces of the'indiwhich has been vidual sections of theforming rolls are de-' signed so as to cooperate informing the blanksadvanced therebetween into articles of the desired shape.

Other features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent fromthe following detailed description of one embodimentthere'of, referencebeing had to the acconipanying drawings, wherein 'Fig; 1 is a sideelevational view of an apparatus embodying the features of theinvention; I

Fig. 2is a front, elevation thereof;

' Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1;I

- Fig. 41s an enlarged fragmentary section taken on line 4-4 of Fig, 2 jFigs, 5.and 6 are fragmentary detailed sections of the magazine andguide chute taken on lines 55 and 66, respectively, of Fin. 4; I p Fig.7fis a perspective view of a blank previous to the forming operation,"and Fig. 8 is a perspective view of an article formed by the improvedap-' means of T-shaped clamping blocks 46- -46 paratus.

1927. SerialNo. 197,651,

The term forming as used in the specification and the claims is'to beunderstood to include any operation wherein the surface contour orformation of the material is changed, such as shaping, bending,stamping, knurling, etc.

Referring ,now to the drawings'in detail and particularly to Figs. 1 and2 thereof, the reference numeral 15, indicates a supporting base towhich are secured a pair of spaced vertical side frame members 16 and17. As shown in Fig. 1, the upper portion of each of the'frame members16 and 17 tapers to a point so'as to form a right angle portion, the

side edges 18 and 19 of which are disposed at an angle 0f45 to thehorizontal. Extending inwardly from each of the side edges 18 and 19 andat right angles thereto are rectangular slots 21 and 22, respectively,with-' in which are mounted the journals for the forming rolls as willbe hereinafter described. The forming rolls are designated generallyinthe drawings by the reference numerals, 24 and 25. The roll 24 iscomposed of a plurality of individual annular sections 26, 27, 28,29 andwhich are keyed or otherwise removably secured to a reduced portion 31of a horizontally disposed shaft 32 (Fig. 3). Disposed between theseindividual roll sections andalso keyed to the shaft 32 are a pluralityof disks 33, each ofrwhich is provided with a plurality of equidistantlyspaced peripheral teeth or projections 34 (Fig. 3) extending beyond theperipheral surface of the forming roll 24; By means of a retainingwasher 35 and a nut 36 threaded upon the end of the reduced portion 31of the shaft 32, the individual sections of the roll 24'and the tootheddisks 34 interposedtherebetween are rigidly clamped together between abushing 38 secured to the shaft 32 and a shoulder 40 formed by thereduced portion of the shaft.

The shaft 32 is rotatablysupported in j ournals 43-43, the oppositesides of which are slotted as indicatedat 44 (Fig; 3) by means of'whichthey are removably mounted in theslots21 ofthe vertical frame members 16and 17. The journals 43 are rigidly held in position against the bottomof the slots 21 by rality of individual annular sections 51, 52,

(Fig. 1) having depending portions 4747 which extend into the slots andare caused to bear under pressure against curved upper surfaces 4848 ofthe journals 43 by means of screws 494=9 extending through suitableapertures formed inoverhanging portions 5050 of the clamping blocks andengaging threaded apertures in the frame members 16 andlli A r p i iTheiforming: roll 25 is'r'composed of a1 plu-- 53, 54 and 55 (Fig. 3) whichare in alignment with the annular sections 26, 27,28", 29 and 30',respectively, of the roll 24. The individual sections of the roll 25 areseparated by annulatr'spacing disks. 57 5-7 which: are of lesserdiameter than the roll sections, thus providing annular spaces=58-58 foraccommodating the peripheral projections 34 of the. spacingv disks 33The sections 51 .to'55,inclusive,

or the roll 25 and the spacing disks 57 are keyed. to a horizontallydisposed shaft 56 (Fi 1). arerigidlyclamped together by means ofiaretainmg washer 60 and a nut 61.

in (a manner: similar to that described'in-r connection w ith the indivildualisections of the-roll 24$. Theshaft5G is rotatably carriedinjournals -.65 removably mounted in. the slots 22 ofthef1iame members116 and 17. Each.

o-f thejournalsJ-6'5 rests upon avpai-r of helical compression" springs6.7-p-'-67'mounted' Within suitable aperturesformed in the bottom of theslots 22 (Fig. A Depending, portions 68" of T shaped clam-ping, blocks70v70 extend into the slots 22 andlare caused to'bear under pressureagainst curved upper surfaces 7'1 'ZI'of-the ournals v65 by :means ofscrews 72- -72 extending-v throu'gh suitable apertures in overhanging.portions 7 3 7 3 of theclamping. blocks and; engaging threadedaperturesin the frame memberslfi and. 17, By reason o'f the constructionw justdescribed, .the space between rolls 24 and 25 may be adjusted mereby'turning screws 7 2, the'springs 67 serving, to keep portions- 73 pressedagainst the heads of thescrews regardless of whether or not there is ablankbetweenthe rolls..

The-rolls andi25' are driven at the same speedjin the directionindicated by the arrows in F ig. 4., The roll 24 may be driven by anysuitable source. of. power (not shown) cons nected-to the shaft 32 andthe roll 25is driven from the shaft 32 by means of suitable gearing,whichnwill presently be described. Se-

cured to the shaft32 is a glearl7'5 and secured totheshaft'56 is asimilar. gear 76 (Fig. Meshing with the gear 75 is a pinion 78 whichmeshes .with. -asimilar pi-nion 7 9 which, in turn, meshes with the gear76; The pinion 78 is rotatably carried upon a pin or stud 8O securedtothe frame-member -16-a-nd the pinion 79 is rotatably carried upon a pinorstud 81- secured to'a bracket- 82', the bracket 82 bing pivotal-lysupported upon the stud Bymeans of ran-adjusting :screw'84 engaging 1secured to the verticalv'frame members 16 and '17... The magazine '88comprisesa pair of spaced vertical side members and 911interconnected byhorizontal cross pieces, one of which is indicated at 92 (Fig. 2). It isobvious that the particular construction of the magazine depends uponthe shape or type of blank to be formed In the present embodiment of theinvention, the magazineis de-- signed to contain a plurality of contactspring blanks 94 of the type shown in' Fig. 7. The blanks are positionedin the magazine in vertical column as shown in F igsQ 2 and 4. Verticalgrooves 95 and 96 (Fig. 5) formed in theinner sides of the Verticalmembers 90" and 91 of the magazine serve to guidethe blanks as theygravitate towards the bottom ordischarge end of the magazine. Thelowermost blankin the inagazinerests upon a plate 97 having an. integralvertical porr tion= 98 by means of which it is secured to the lowerendof the magazine as shown in Fig. 4,

It will be observed by referring to Fig.,4 that an arcu-ate portion,ofjthe plate 97 is disposed in .close proximity to the peripheralsurface of the roll 24;. Positioned'above the plate 97 and spacedtherefrom just sufiiciently to permit the passage of ablanktherebetweenisan arcuate shaped plate 100 having an integral verticalportion 101 by means of which it is secured to the vertical side members90 and 91 of the magazine. The plate 100 is provided with depending sideportions 102102 which are spaced apart just sufiicientlyto accommodate ablank positioned lengthwise there'between, as shown in Figs. 5

and 6. *The plates 97 and 1 00 cooperate toprovide a guide chute 103 orconfined passage for the blanks as they are advancedfrom the bottom ofthe magazine to the position where-- inv they are engaged between theforming rolls. Theplates 97 and 100 are provided with a plurality ofspaced slots or openings 104 104 (Figs. 5 and 6 through which theperipheral teeth'34c of the; disks 33 pass-during the rotation thereof;I r V 7 It willbe noted by referring to'Fig. 4;

that the lowermost blank in the magazineis positioned sothat it isengaged by theforward edges of the peripheral teeth 34:. of the disks33. ,'It will also be apparent that suc-' cessive teeth 34 are spacedapartjustsufv ficiently to accommodate a blank therebe' tween. By reasonof this construction and arrangement of the parts, it is obvious that asthe blanks gravitate to the bottom of the magazine they are individuallyand successively engaged by the peripheral teeth 34 of the rotatingdisks 33 bywhich they are advanced and guided through the guide chute103 to the position wherein they are: gripped between the forming rolls24and v25. As soon as a'blankhas been completely moved from its positionat the bottom of the'magazine the blank positioned immediatelythereabove drops into its place. Sufficient time is provided, for thisaction to take place by reason of the rearward edges of the teeth 34being'tapered'ofi as indicated at 105 (Fig. 4).

.Although the forming rolls as illustrated in the present embodiment ofthe invention are preferably composed of a plurality of individualsections, it is to be understood that either or both of the rolls maycomprise a single unit. The peripheral surfaces of'the forming rolls aredesigned so as to form the blanks advanced therebetween into articles ofthe desired predetermined shape. In the present embodiment of theinvention the peripheral surfaces of the individual sections of theforming rolls are provided with a series .1 of cooperating annularridges and depressions designed to form metal blanks into electricalcontact springs ofthe shape indicated at 106 in Fig. 8. 1

Qlt is believed that the novel features of the invention will be clearlyunderstood from the rotating disk33 successively engage individualblanks as they gravitate'to the bottom of the magazine and advance themthrough the guide chute 103 and between the peripheral surfaces of theforming rolls by which they are formed into articles of the desiredpredetermined-shape. The guide chute 103 and the peripheral projections34 cooperate to confine the blanks to a predetermined path as they areadvanced from the bottom of the magazine. After passing between theforming rolls the formed articles drop into a removable pan orreceptacle 108 (Figs. 1 and 2).

It should be understood that the'magazine 88 may be readily andconveniently replaced by magazines constructed to accommodate blanks ofvarious sizes and shapes. 'Also the forming rolls or one or more of theindividual sections thereof maybe readily removed and replaced by rollsand individual sections of various constructions designed to form[blanks into articles of various predetermined shapes.

Electrical contact springs of the type illustrated in Fig. 8 and othersimilar articles have in some instances been formed heretofore by punchpress operations, which method sometimes tends to change the molecularstructure of the metal, thus often necessitatingan annealing operationin order to obtain the desired characteristics. Furthermore, it has beenfound that the tension or other physical characteristics of punchpressedcontact springs sometimes varies to such an extent that it has beennecessary in some instances to accurately. test the individual springsin order to insure that they possess the required physicalcharacteristics. However, it has been found that the physicalcharacteristics of material formed in accordance with the presentinvention are not materially affected thereby and therefore theannealing and testing operations may be eliminated. This obviouslyresults in a large saving in the cost of prodrution.

Although the invention has been herein illustrated and described inconnectionwith a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understoodthat the novel features of the invention are capable of various otherappli cations within the scope of the appende claims. I

What is claimed is: m 4

'1. In an article forming apparatus, a magazine for containing a supplyof articles, a guide chute extending from the discharge end of saidmagazine, and a pair of rolls having cooperating peripheral formingsurfaces for engaging opposite sides of an article, one of the rollshaving a plurality of spaced elements permanently projecting beyond theperiphery thereof for receiving articles from the magazine and advancingthem through i the guide chute and between the peripheral surfaces ofthe rolls.

2. I In an article forming apparatus, a magazine for containing a supplyof articles arranged in av column, a pair of positively driven rollshaving cooperating peripheral forming surfaces for engaging, oppositesurfaces of an article, a guide chute communicating with an opening inthe lower end of the magazine for guiding an article from the magazineto the engaging surfaces of the forming rolls, and a member permanentlyprojecting from the surface of one of the rolls for advancing an articlefrom the magazine through the guide chute.

' 3. In an article forming apparatus, a pair of cooperating formingrolls,=each roll comprising a plurality of spaced individual sec-.

spaced peripheral teeth extending beyond the peripheral. surface of: theroll and passing between adjacent sections of the other-roll for guidingand advancing articles. between :25 the rolls. 5. In an articleformingapparatus,a'mage azinefor containing a supply of. articlesarranged-therein in avertical column, a pair of Cooperating drivenforming rolls, each roll comprising a plurality. of individual sections,a plurality of disks-disposed between adjacent sections ofone of therolls, each disk. having a plurality of spaced peripheral teethextending beyond the peripheral surfaces of the adjacent roll sectionsand passing be-' tweenadjacent sections of the opposite roll forsuccessively receiving articles from the magazine and advancing thembetween the forming rolls, and means for guiding the articlesas they areadvanced by the peripheral teeth, of said disks.

,6. In an. article. forming; apparatus, a pair ofv cooperating formingrolls, a magazine for containing asupply of articles, a: guide chute.

2 extending from the discharge end of the magazine to the engagingsurfacesiof the forming rolls, and means carried by one of the formingrolls and permanently projecting beyond theyperiphery thereof foradvancingan ar- 312 ticle' fromthe; magazine through the chute.-

andbetween the. rolls.

In a'material forming apparatus, a plurality of cooperating formingrolls arranged to peripherally engage the material, and a. plurality ofradial elementsprojecting permanently'i-n spaced relationship circumfer-V entially of the forming rolls'for advancing the material between therolls. 8. In a material forming apparatus,a pair of cooperatingrotatable forming members having: complementary formingsurfaces.

shaped .as -surfaces of rotation with their radiivaryingirregularly fromone end of the members tothe. other, and non-forming 415 means carriedbyone: of the-forming members; intermediate theends thereof andpermanently projecting beyond the forming surface: of the forming memberfor advancing thematerial between the formingv surfaces.

9 In a materialforming apparatus, a pair of rotatable forming membershaving com plementary circumferentially extending projections anddepressions, and non-fornr ing' means carried? 'by one of t-he formingmembers intermediate the ends thereof and permanently projecting beyondthe periph eryxof the forming'memberfor advancing thematerialtherebetween.

10. In a material forming apparatus, a pair of. rotatable formingmembers having complementary circumferentiall yextending projections:and depressions, and having horizontal axes lying in a common inclinedplane,- a. magazine extending substantially vertically aboveone of theforming memfor advancingmaterial fromthe magazineto a position betweenthe forming members. 7

'- '11.;In an. article forming apparatus, a

pair'of cooperating forming rolls, a nonformingmember carriedby one ofthe rolls and. permanently projecting beyond its periphery for engagingan elongated; article at a point intermediate its ends and advancingthearticle side-wise between the rolls, the other roll beinmprovidedwith a recess to receive. said memer,andmeans forsupplying articles: tosaid membenj Y 12. Inan article forming apparatus, formingmeanscomprising afrol l anda member 00- operatingwith the roll toformarticles into predetermined shapes, and. means separate from. theforming means. and comprising a plurality of elements I spacedcircumferentiall-y of the; rollan-d permanentlyprojecting beyonditsperiphery' for advancing articles between the roll and said member.

13, In; anapparatuszfor forming elongated articles, a pair ofcooperatinguforming rolls adapted to impart a predetermined shape to anarticle passed therebetween, one ofsaid rolls comprising a plurality offco-axial sec-' tions, and means carried between adjacent: sections ofsaid roll for positively. advancing an guiding an, article between therolls. i

14. In an apparatus forforming elongated articles, a pair of cooperatingmulti-se ction forming: rolls adapted to impart a predetermined shape toan article passed therebetween, the sections of'each roll being inaxial" alignment, and a plurality of spaced ad-' vancingmembers carriedbetween-adjacent sectionsof one'of the rolls for advancingandguiding-anarticle between the rolls. 7

' 15. In anapparatus for: fo-rmingelongated articles, a pair of.cooperating multi-section forming rolls adapted to impart a:predetermined shape to an article passed therebetween, the sections ofeach roll being in axial alignment and a plurality of advancing membersspaced from. each other longitu-- dinally of the rolls-and carriedbetweenadjacent sections of one of the rolls for ad-- vancing an articlebetween the rolls. V

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 26th day ofMay'A.'D., 1927. 3 CHARLES EDXVIN NELSON.

JOHN STANLEY STULIJ.

